Big names back new WiMAX operator

Stephen Withers
Thursday, 08 May 2008 07:01

IT Industry - Strategy

Several well-known IT and communications companies are behind Clearwire, a new company that plans a nationwide WiMAX network.

The existing Clearwire Corporation and Sprint Nextel are combining their wireless broadband operations into the new company, which is being backed to the tune of $US3.2 billion by Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner and Bright House Networks.

If the plan goes through, Sprint will have a 51 percent stake in the new Clearwire, current Clearwire investors will hold around 27 percent, and the remainder will go to the new strategic investors.

The WiMAX network is expected to cover between 120 and 140 million people in the US by the end of 2010.

Several supplementary agreements have been put into place with the strategic investors. Intel will promote the use of WiMAX chips in Centrino 2 notebooks and other mobile Internet devices, Google will develop various services and applications for mobile WiMAX users as well as being Clearwire's search partner, and Clearwire will support the Android platform on future devices.

In addition, Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks will retail the new Clearwire WiMAX services, while Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and the new Clearwire will be able to offer their customers bundled services including Sprint's 3G wireless voice and data offerings.

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